“Governor Carey was the man who saved New York. He put together business and labor leaders, democratic and republican leaders, something we certainly need more in the government today,” Bloomberg said.

“Every day thousands of commuters don’t take the subway; they drive through this tunnel and into Hugh Carey’s old congressional district,” the mayor added. “And from this day forward, if only for a moment, they’ll also think of Hugh L. Carey, who really was a giant in his time. “

Carey, a democrat and Irish-Catholic father of 14 who died last year at the age of 92, is remembered for revamping the MTA, addressing public health issues and handling New York’s economic woes during his two terms as governor from 1975 to 1982.

Cuomo said that Carey’s experience in the House, where he served for more than decade, allowed him to resolve bipartisan differences as governor, adding that the late leader brought the city out of near-bankruptcy.

“Not every governor will be noted and honored the way Carey is being noted and honored,” Cuomo said. “To be honored, you have to be a governor who got something done.”

Michael Carey, the son of the late governor, said his father started the “I Love New York” campaign, a testament of his devotion to the city.

“He served 14 years, during which he passed numerous pieces of legislation on education and civil rights for the disabled, ” he said.

“On behalf of the Carey family and the Carey friends, we say thank you to people of the state of New York for making this possible.”

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